Talk with Current Students
Meet the Student Ambassadors
Notre Dame Law School’s Student Ambassadors are current 2Ls and 3Ls who are excited to offer their unique insight into our community. If you have questions about the student experience at NDLS, feel free to email them at lawadmit@nd.edu. To contact a specific ambassador, simply name them in the subject or greeting of your email.
For more specific questions about the application and admissions process, please contact the admissions staff after reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions.
Emma Hildebrand, 3L
Hometown: Mendon, Illinois
Undergraduate career: Monmouth College, 2017, B.A. in Political Science/History
NDLS extracurricular activities: Journal of Legislation - Executive Articles Editor; Military & Veterans Law Society - Vice President
Legal work: Judicial Extern for Judge Gotsch on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana (South Bend); SLIP Intern at the Department of Justice Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section (DC); Legal Extern at the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of the General Counsel (DC); Legal Intern for the Air Force JAG Corps Legal Assistance Policy Division (DC)
Future plans and aspirations: I am currently working on federal agency applications and hope to work in D.C. doing litigation work for the government.
Why did you choose NDLS? Growing up in a very small town and graduating from a very small college, finding a law school with a strong sense of community was my priority. Notre Dame fit that bill perfectly. Professors and staff are so supportive and welcoming and students genuinely want to see each other succeed. Even after graduating, alumni stick together and have each other’s backs. NDLS has truly felt like home these last two years and I am proud to be a part of this community.
McKenzie Bush, 2L
Hometown: Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Undergraduate career: Santa Clara University- B.S. in Political Science and Asian Studies
NDLS extracurricular activities: Moot Court Board (Oralist)
Legal work: 1L Summer Associate at Plews, Shadley, Racher & Braun
Future plans and aspirations: Next summer, I will be a summer associate at Kelley Drye & Warren in NYC. I plan to pursue litigation.
Why did you choose NDLS? I chose NDLS because of its unrivaled community and alumni network, superb professors, and strong legal writing program.
Sebastián Ramírez, 2L
Hometown: Weston, Florida
Undergraduate career: American University– Political Science
NDLS extracurricular activities: LGBT Law Forum, Hispanic Law Students Association
Legal work: I interned this summer at Chicago House working on trans civil rights litigation through the PILI fellowship. This Fall, I'm interning with Indiana Legal Services, and I'm interning in the Spring with MALDEF.
Future plans and aspirations: Civil rights litigation
Why did you choose NDLS? Strong sense of community, small class sizes, professors are easily accessible and want you to succeed.
Alexandra Lesnik, 2L
Hometown: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
Undergraduate career: University of Notre Dame - Neuroscience and Behavior
NDLS extracurricular activities: Journal of Legislation, Staff Editor; American Constitution Society, Vice President; National Lawyer's Guild, Secretary; Exoneration Project, Secretary/Treasurer; American Civil Liberties Union, Secretary
Legal work: Summer Legal Intern at Promise of Justice Initiative in New Orleans, Louisiana
Future plans and aspirations: I plan to pursue work in the criminal legal system, likely in a direct services role (public defense or otherwise), in order to mitigate the harm done, while ultimately working towards a vision of prison abolition.
Why did you choose NDLS? Having gone to Notre Dame for my undergraduate degree, I had first hand experience with a lot of great things that apply to the law school, too. I have a deep love for South Bend and was really excited to rejoin the community I had previously found here. The alumni network is truly unmatched--folks are so excited connect with students and other alum to help their future careers in any way possible. Finally, the general environment of NDLS is collegial and friendly, which was really important to me as I entered into the naturally stressful experience that is law school!
Mia Oyama, 2L
Hometown: North Caldwell, New Jersey
Undergraduate career: University of Florida - B.S. in Advertising
NDLS extracurricular activities: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council Chair for the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA), Student Bar Association Mental Health & Wellness Committee, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association Member (APALSA), Black Law Students Association Member (BLSA)
Legal work: Legal Intern at Saks Fifth Avenue (Saks.com)
Future plans and aspirations: I hope to practice transactional law after graduation. As I get further in my career, I aspire to work as in-house counsel.
Why did you choose NDLS? I chose Notre Dame for the community and strong alumni network. As a first generation college and law student, it was important for me to find mentors in the legal field. Since starting law school, Notre Dame has given me a supportive network of friends, faculty, and alumni. NDLS has also provided me with the opportunity to pursue my goals in an environment that values inclusion and belonging.
Matteo Taraborrelli, 3L
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Undergraduate career: University of Alabama B.A. International Relations with a concentration in Latin America
NDLS extracurricular activities: President, Sports Communications and Entertainment Law Forum
Legal work: Summer Associate, Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani; Research Assistant (Professor Barry Cushman); Extern, Federal Community Defenders Northern District of Indiana; Extern, Notre Dame Athletic Department; Extern, NiSource (in-house)
Future plans and aspirations: I will be working in the New York office of Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani in their Employment and Commercial Litigation practice group. In addition, I will do sports & entertainment work with the firm to a lesser extent. Ultimately, my goal is to become involved with a professional sports team and/or league either working for a players association or in the front office of a franchise.
Why did you choose NDLS? Covid-19, unfortunately, canceled any plans I had to visit campus. However, NDLS made me confident in my ability to find employment after graduation while also providing a strong sense of community that is not limited to any single geographic area of the country. College football was also a plus.
Mary Mancusi, 3L (Lead Ambassador)
Hometown: Crete, Illinois
Undergraduate career: Fox College, A.A.S in Administrative Assistant; Governors State University, B.A. in Communications
NDLS extracurricular activities: Notre Dame Law Review, Executive Print Editor; Student Bar Association, Vice President
Legal work: 1L summer associate at Miller Johnson (Grand Rapids); 2L summer associate at Saul Ewing (Chicago): Fall 2022 externship with ND Office of General Counsel
Future plans and aspirations: Clerkship with Judge John F. Kness in the Northern District of Illinois
Why did you choose NDLS? Geography was really important to me, and Notre Dame is only an hour and a half drive from home, so that's why I initially applied. But as I got to know more and more about NDLS by talking to current students, alumni, and staff, I realized that Notre Dame was different. Everyone I spoke with genuinely loved their experience at NDLS and was so excited to share it with me. I wanted that same experience. I wanted to be proud of where I went to law school. Additionally, since I didn't have a traditional undergraduate experience, I wanted to be at a law school with a strong campus community and lots of extracurricular opportunities, and I knew Notre Dame could provide that for me. And so far, I have not been disappointed.
Joshua Mannery, 2L (Lead Ambassador)
Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi
Undergraduate career: University of Mississippi – Political Science
NDLS extracurricular activities: Admissions - Lead Admissions / Student Bar Association - Treasurer / Black Law Student Association - Admissions Liaison
Legal work: Legal Internship w/ Chegg Internship
Future plans and aspirations: After I graduate with my J.D., I plan to spend a few years working for a law firm in the hopes that I can one day serve as General Counsel for a university or nonprofit!
Why did you choose NDLS? Notre Dame Law School was a gamble. Despite all of the overwhelmingly positive things I heard about the institution, from its personable and charming community to its robust and passionate alumni base, I had no relationship to the school at all. Because of that, relocating myself from Mississippi and up to South Bend was frankly scary. But, I wanted to prove to myself that I could rebuild my brand in a new environment, so I swallowed my anxiety and made the move. It helped that the school took active efforts to make sure I had the resources and assistance to get here!
Samantha Mariani, 3L
Hometown: Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Undergraduate career: University of Notre Dame, 2020, B.B.A. in Accountancy and French (with a certificate in International Business)
NDLS extracurricular activities: Executive Editor, Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy; Moot Court; Mendoza Liaison, Student Bar Association
Legal work: Summer Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Winter Legal Intern at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP
Future plans and aspirations: I have accepted my offer to return to New York City after graduation as a Corporate Associate at Kirkland & Ellis.
Why did you choose NDLS? I chose to return to Notre Dame for law school because the community is unparalleled. The students, faculty, and alumni are all extremely helpful and welcoming. Everyone wants to help you succeed, especially the alumni ... once a Domer, always a Domer! Additionally, NDLS encourages you to grow into a well-rounded lawyer and explore your interests. After coming to NDLS, I decided to apply to become a 3-year JD/MBA, and NDLS as a whole, and especially the Career Development Office, was very supportive throughout the process.